The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-09-01

The Lynchburg Adudnce says that the
party was so dead in 1877 that
it did not put ticket in the field for State
offices. We have heretofore referred to
a similar assertion, and given the reasons
for the action of the Republicans in that |
year. We had just passed through the ex
citing campaign of 1876 between Hayes and
Tiden, when the State was carried by the
Democrats solely on the ''nigger' clamor.
Up to that time the stock in trade of the
Democrats was niger niger" 1t was
by such methods that the capitation tax
restriction on the ballot the whipping
post law, &C., were established. When the
Republicans would bring to the attention
of the people the deplorable condition OF
the State. the impovishment OF the public
schools, the bankruptcy of the treasury,
and the general inetliciency and corruption
of the party in power. they were met by
inflammable appeals to the white people to
avert the fate of South Carolina and Lou
isiana. No discussion of Vlrgmia's affairs
was allowed. No appeal to the reason of
the people was tolerated. Insane passion
ruled with relentless and reckless sway
The State debt would be hooted at and all
reference to it avoided in flood of denun-
citation and villifcation, because the
'scarpet baggers'' reigned in some OF the
cotton states. In this condition OF things
the Republicans concluded that they would
serve their State best by forcing State
questions upon the attention of the people,
and to do this it was determined to place
no ticket in the field in 1S77-thus compel
ling d emo crats as we'll as Republicans to
take position upon vital State interests
We remember well when the VIRGINIAN
first formulated this policy. that many
prominent Republicans protested against
it as an uncalled for surrender. We per-
sisted, knowing that the effect could Lot
be otherwise than to divide the Democrats
especially on the debt issue. We did not
miscalculate. From that time to this the
..nigger" clamor has had less and less to
do with our political contests. Numbers
of Democrats then are Republicans, now.
and the present Republican party, embrac-
ing within it many of the most substantial
progressive and influential citizens of the
State. and constantly growing in the white
districts, is one of the results. The capt.
tation tax restriction on the ballot. and the
whipping post law have been repealed
. The public schools have become grounded
in the favor and support OF the people, and
!, the debt ascertainment so readjusted that
no one dares to assail its equities. These
benefactions all grew out of the policy Of
II the Republicans in 1877, and are sufficient
q compensation for the apparent surrender
J, in that year. And it has forced the Dem
S ocrats to recognize its power Compelled
= them to adopt free ballot, at least by
s profession to admit the inhumanity Of
: the whipping post; to proclaim the re
e statement Of the debt as the perfection O.
it human wisdom on which they cannot i'm
!, prove to detest the coupon to surrende
II their insidious hOstilityto the free schools
J. and affect to support them /: to declar'
q against free trade and in favor of protec
e ton to hedge first and then oppose TIN
IS existing internal revenue laws. In fact
II driven them to abandnn everything distinc
= lively democratic. except the name, and de
a. clare for what the Republicans have ad
e. vanced and supported, without even de
Iy cent apology for their incompetency. in
difference to the interests of tie State
h. their failure to comprehend the wants o
,e the people and the current of popula
IN thought in the past.
st When the surrender of the Republican
tx in 1S77' is considered in the light of Re
y publican achievements since then and a
o. results of that action and the surrende
and humiliation of the Democratic part
At of Virginia, every year, until now
,o does not know itself. and has neither prin
+. ciple nor policy, we do not think the Re
o. publicans of 1877 have anything with whic
az to reproach themselves.